Combined stacker and sorter

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for receiving sheets of paper from a host printer and selectively transporting the sheets to a stacker tray or to a selective tray sheet sorting machine of the bin opening type. The apparatus has a sheet transport system for receiving sheets and gating the sheets to an infeed for the stacker tray or transporting the sheets to the infeed of the sheet sorting machine. The sheet transport system is in part incorporated in a cabinet door which completes the sheet transport when closed and when opened affords access to the infeeds for the stacker tray and the sorter. The sorter has nested trays to occupy a small vertical space and a tray opener which moves to locations between trays to pivot the trays open adjacent to the sheet infeed to provide a large space between trays for entry of the sheets. The sheet infeeds to the stacker tray and sorter trays can be opened when the door is open to provide access, and a blocking device prevents clsoure of the door if one of the infeeds is open.

Having thus described an illustrative embodiment, what is claimed as the invention is defined in the appended claims. 
     
       1. Sorter/Stacker apparatus for use with a printer supplying sheets of paper comprising: a housing, sorter means in said housing including a plurality of vertically arranged horizontally extended trays for receiving sheets, stacker means spaced vertically in said housing from said sorter means and having a receiver tray means for receiving sheets, sheet transport means for transporting sheets from said printer in said housing to said sorter means and said stacker means, sorter sheet infeed means in said housing for carrying sheets to said sorter means for said transport means, stacker sheet infeed means in said housing for carrying sheets to said stacker means from said transport means, and means for selectively directing sheets transported by said transport means to said sorter infeed means or said stacker infeed means, an access door for said housing exposing said sorter sheet infeed means and said stacker sheet infeed means when said door is opened, said housing and said door having complemental portions of said sheet transport means carried thereby to complete the transport of sheets to said sorter sheet infeed means and said stacker sheet infeed means only when said door is closed. 
     
     
       2. Sorter/Stacker apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said sorter sheet infeed means and said stacker sheet infeed means includes opposing sheet transport members and means mounting said members for separation from sheet feeding relation when said door is opened. 
     
     
       3. Sorter/Stacker apparatus as defined in claim 2, including means for indicating that said members of one said sheet infeed means are opened. 
     
     
       4. Sorter/Stacker apparatus as defined in claim 2, including means for preventing said door from closing when said members of one of said sheet infeed means are separated. 
     
     
       5. Sorter/Stacker apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said sorter means includes means supporting said plurality of trays relative to said sorter sheet infeed means for movement between closely spaced positions and positions spaced apart to provide an enlarged sheet entry space at said, sorter sheet infeed means and means for moving said trays successively to provide said enlarged space. 
     
     
       6. Sorter/Stacker apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said means for moving said trays includes a cam and means for driving said cam in opposite directions. 
     
     
       7. Sorter/Stacker apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said means for moving said trays includes a cam and means for driving said cam in opposite directions, said cam being freely vertically movable relative to said driving means for vertical movement of said cam from tray to tray responsive to co-engagement of said cam and said trays as said cam successively provides said enlarged space. 
     
     
       8. Sorter/Stacker apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a drive motor and drive means driven by said motor to simultaneously drive said sheet transport means, said sorter sheet infeed means and stacker sheet infeed means. 
     
     
       9. Sorter/Stacker apparatus comprising a housing adapted to be associated with a printer supplying sheets of paper, sheet infeed means to carry sheets into said housing from the printer, a stacker tray, and a sheet sorter in said housing in vertically spaced relation, sheet transport means for moving sheets vertically in said housing, first and second deflector means for deflecting sheets selectively towards said stacker tray and said sorter from said transport means, a stacker sheet infeed extending between said transport means at the first of said deflecting means and said stacker tray, a sorter sheet infeed extending between said transport means at the second of said deflector means and said sorter, one of said deflector means being movable to an inoperative position permitting transport of sheets by said sheet transporting means to the other of said deflector means, said sorter having a plurality of vertically spaced sorter trays, said sorter trays and said sorter sheet infeed being relatively vertically movable for distribution of sheets from said sorter infeed into said trays, a door on said housing, said sheet transport means including driver and idler sheet engaging components in opposed relation, said idler sheet engaging components being carried by said door. 
     
     
       10. Sorter/Stacker apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein each of said stacker infeed and said sorter infeed includes opposing sheet transport members and means mounting said members for separation when said door is open.